diff --git a/loopy/kernel/array.py b/loopy/kernel/array.py
index ebaff7283cbcee067b773244139d1e3172b9b2e9..0170abd1620934e91f4a018995d81379977e40cf 100644
--- a/loopy/kernel/array.py
+++ b/loopy/kernel/array.py
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ class ArrayBase(Record):
         if dtype is not None and dtype is not lp.auto:
             dtype = np.dtype(dtype)
 
-        if dtype == np.object:
+        if dtype == object:
             raise TypeError("loopy does not support object arrays "
                     "(object dtype encountered on array '%s')"
                     % name)